Rachel Elizabeth

While driving to work today, I started to lose consciousness and almost went off the road from not having enough air in my car. I was only in the heat for 25 minutes.

Every once in a while, I secretly hope that someone will want to marry me despite me being quite freakish.

I think it's because I see other people getting married left and right, and I think gee, look how wonderful these women are that some nice guy would want to live with them until death! I convince myself I'm meatloaf and those women are fillet mignon.

Dear God, please let some guy like meatloaf.

Amen.

Sometimes, it's just one of those days where you feel like driving your car into a tree. . . and you know you should.

I'm starting to think that there are really more unkind and hateful people in the world than there are kind and loving people. I think it's just more fun to be a jerk for no reason than to be nice. Or maybe it's because too many people are spoiled. Or maybe it's just Indiana. I never encountered rudeness in Colorado or California.

Ever notice how people seem to be most critical of things they know nothing about? I'm really tired of people criticizing my mom. It's really making me angry. They think she's not really ill because they know nothing about her condition, and don't live with her, and the times they have been around her are when she's actually out of the house and not sick, so therefore she must not be sick... Jerks. Like I would put college on hold for two years to work tons of hours, and have no life for nothing?

Yesterday was glorious. The lovely Analiese and I had dinner at Papa Vino's, and then hit Borders, Barnes & Nobles, Old Navy, and Shoe Carnival. Of all the things to chose from at B & N, I got a Monet 18 month calendar for $5, and a Yiddish magnetic poetry set. Oh the fun I will have. I purchased some tank tops for my trip, and a pair of walking sandals. I love having conversations with good friends. I'm so glad I know such a fabulous lady!

Today is more work, Friday is my mom's meeting with her attorney in Granger, and Saturday I work at the health food store until 6pm. Yay! My Egyptian Henna shampoo and clean rinse came in today. I'm excited to try it as soon as possible. I'm not using drugstore products anymore. I've been researching all the chemicals that are in the shampoos and soaps you get at places like Walgreen's and target, and it's not good. I would much rather spend an extra 6 dollars than put chemicals on my skin. I was always trying to save money, but now I'm more concerned about my health.

check out http://aubrey-organics.com It's all organic, non animal tested, vegan, and all their packaging is from recycled materials.

I've already purchased a lot of their skin care line, and am quite impressed with not only the quality of ingredients, but the prices. I love Burt's Bees, but with the CCD [colony collapse disorder] becoming quite rampant, I think I need to try and do my part to conserve bees wax and honey by not purchasing items that use beeswax. The good thing is that Burt's Bees is donating money to scientists to research causes for CCD and to try and stop it from progressing.

    vox is pointless.

I've recently become more aware of something that I've been thinking on a lot. It seems that when things go bad, we somehow want to blame God for what has occurred. If we don't have a boyfriend, if we don't get that job we wanted, if things aren't happening in the time frame we expected. It's so easy to say, God, you're in charge of the universe, therefore You're the reason I don't have what I want/need. God does not want bad things for you. Ever. It completely goes against the nature of God. He does not cause adversity and hardship to come to those he loves and cares for as His children. He knows that we live in a physical world where humans are, sadly, the object of much suffering and trials. Sickness, death, financial problems, family problems. The list could go on forever.

I think we need to start concentrating on everything He has done for us and His character. When did we [followers] start this trend of ungratefulness and bitterness? Blaming God for everything that goes wrong? Should we not praise him and thank him during the hard times and the good times? What does that say about the state of our relationship with Him? We need to start focusing in on who He really is, what He does for us, and stop being angry with God. Of course He does not grant wishes or just hand over things we want so easily. There are so many factors involved when it comes to obtaining what we want or need.

Some things to think about:

1. Is it what He wants for us? Are we asking for something that completely goes against his will for our life? **

2. Is it reasonable? Are we striving towards something that is at this point not realistically, going to happen.

3. Are we expecting this to happen in OUR time frame not his.

4. Are we asking with a grateful, humble heart?

5. Do we have any bitter feelings we are harboring towards Him due to being disappointed in the past?

6. Does God really need to work on us [spiritually speaking] before he can lead us to our destiny?
A lot of times, there's major work to be done on the inside! That can only be a good thing.

I think when we ask Him, and pray to him about desires of our heart, we need to first examine that heart that could be hindering our prayer life, and spiritual life. Sometimes it's harder to see the blessings we want in our life if we are acting like the selfish and spoiled child that wants everything NOW. He knows the desires of our heart, and of course he will not deny us, we just need to do our part and check ourselves carefully and take time for reflection or examination.

**Another thing to be considered is what your path is. Ask Him about it. Yes, we cannot ever know everything in our futures. What fun would life be then? We do, however, need to accept that not two people have the same life path. Maybe your friend is going to get married when they're 23, and you'll be 33. We don't know, but we need to not desire the paths of others. I think we need to see it this way: God has made all of us unique, and if that is true, then we can also expect a unique destiny and life path to travel. To desire another path would be like saying "I don't want to be an individual anymore, God. Make me like this person." I have through the years, constantly been reminding myself of this and have really been more at peace since I have just accepted my life path and that God's timing is far better than mine could ever be, and who knows me better than He who created me?
No one.

1. People who are intelligent and feel they should go out of their way to treat others like they're stupid just to make themselves feel superior and even more intelligent. Really? You know everything? I can't believe your brain has not been donated to science already!
   
2. Insecure people who are paranoid about the most minuscule of things thinking that everyone hates them blah blah blah....go get some therapy. The world is too big for everyone to take time out of their day to hate you. You are NOT the center of everyone's life!
3. Braggers. Do I care that the nephew of your uncle's co-worker's sister has met some celebrity while vacationing in California? Do I care if you have vacationed in Europe 3 times?! What is the point? Why do you feel you need to brag about what you've done, where you've been, and who you've met so you can have a 10 second high of feeling better than someone else? PATHETIC!
4. Jealousy. Pointless. Complete waste of time. Be grateful for what you have and GROW UP!
   
5. Projection. I know some people who have done some really bad things that they feel absolutely awful about. What do they do? Go around telling everyone that another person has done all of those things [when they haven't] in order to relieve some of their guilt. Let me introduce a new concept called responsibility! It's useful, respectable, and gee whiz kids, it means you're actually an adult!! Now doesn't that sound wonderful?
   
6. Voluntary multiple personality disorder. Example: "OMG amy! I absolutely love you! You're my best friend!" [5 minutes later to another person]: "OMG I totally hate her, like for sure. What a ho!" MAKE UP YOUR MIND. Both of them. This seems to be particularly rampant among teenage girls.
   
7. The disappearing "friend". One day you're hanging out watching tv, the next, you wonder if they have joined some cult in Texas and have been cut off from civilization due to an extreme demand to repopulate the earth before the 2nd coming. Oh wait, they're just complete tossers and are ignoring you.
8. Liars. You are going to get caught when you change your story 5 times.
   
9. Enlarged head and "smart" idiots [see numbers 1 and 2]. You've gone to college and have had absolutely riveting and intellectually stimulating courses such as: Philosophical themes found in Star Wars, Lord of the Rings languages:Their uses in modern society, A study of squirrels and their mating habits. Really? Your mommy and daddy just paid $30,000 for one year of college so you can speak elvish at the next Lord of the Rings convention in Las Vegas and now can drink your weight in cheap beer? Now there's a quality education. And you really think you are better than I am? Save it for the sand people. Just because you don't have a piece of paper with your name in a pretty font and a nice little golden border, doesn't make you stupid. Let's see if we can understand that? And guess what? That little nugget of information was free.
   
10. Dependants. Mom and dad aren't going to pay for everything forever and bail you out of life's problems. Live, learn, and be financially independent. You'll not only feel liberated, but you won't have to bribe daddy into getting you that pretty handbag at the mall. Whew. What a relief.
    

"Revelation 1:1 says, 'The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants –….'  Jesus is entirely different in the book of Revelation than He is in any of the gospels.  To spend a lifetime of ministry and only convey the Jesus of the gospels is not only to do a disservice to the church but also a disservice to the community and the nation.  The fruit of this choice culminates in a season where judgments manifest but no one recognizes them as judgments and therefore refuses to turn and repent so the judgments continue until the nation is lost.  The fruit of teaching only Jesus the Savior is the loss of a nation that previous generations died for.  Our culture stands in such a place and only a remnant seems willing to voice biblical truth which will bring utter derision from major sections of the church.  The fruit of watered-down Christianity is everywhere apparent!"  -- Al Houghton

Now doesn't that just make you think a little bit about the kind of "Christianity" that has become rampant in the United States? Didn't we always pride ourselves on being so spiritual? One of the most God fearing nations? Now we are seeing an era of so called believers that are eager to cause dissention, spread hatred, lies, gossip, perpetuate false ideas, and twist the Bible to fit what they want it to. Some breeds of "Christians" pride themselves on how much money they can milk from working class people by playing with their emotions on the tv. For the people that are genuine in their beliefs and the way they live their life, America isn't really a safe place to belive anymore. We have been made to look like we are committing intelectual suicide by believing in Christ because of the pretenders running the surface "Christianity" broadcasting themselves in every meduim imaginable to slowly water down the true, authentic Christianity of the Bible. The ones who stand up to this sham are not going to be popular, but we are doing the right thing by standing up for true Christianity. We don't have private jet planes, we don't hold fund raisers, we don't  plea for money on the tv, sell holy oil, nightlights, and trinkets. Didn't Jesus express his anger at the people making profits in the Temple? How are the "Christian" pirates of today any different? We really need to re-examine the state of our nation's faith, and ask ourselves if this is really what God intended? I think the answer would be no. There has not recently been a better time to pray for this country.
 

I get you towels, Ethernet cables, pillows, blankets and more.
I give you a room away from that other guy,
So you won't hear him snore.
I work real hard to be so nice and put on that fake smile,
But sometimes I just want to yell at you,
Just a bit, just for a little while.
I'd like to tell you "NO DISCOUNTS!
You're too young to be a member of AARP!
I don't care if you've been kicked out of your house,
I don't care you have to fix your expensive RV!"

We always state quite clearly that the pool is closed at 10,
And yet you try to sneak in at 9:59 every night! Over and over again!
We spoil you quite rotten, give you everything you need,
And yet you always bite our hands.
Did you forget from whom you feed?!
I truly understand that you need to talk to that guy Ned,
But how on earth can I check you in to your room
With that damn phone attached to your head?!

No, you can't have an upgrade,
I'm sorry you hate our DSL,
This rate is final and I've had enough!
I think that maybe you should go down the road,
To that motel that looks like hell.

I know you're in a hurry,
You've really got no time.
You rush in and out of the doors,
Is kindness such a crime?
I work 8 hours for little pay.
I get no lunch breaks,
And can rarely use the loo.
Would it hurt you to be nice?
Just a little? Would 5 seconds really kill you?

So when you leave,
You get into your black Mercedes Benz,
To go work all day, real hard,
But just remember one little thing,
I still have your credit card.

I've become increasingly worried about the state of my generation.
Besides the fact that a lot of people in my peer group have no respect for authority figures, parents, and human kind in general, there seems to be something else I find a lot more disturbing and it's happening among kids who were raised in what some would consider a "Christian" home.

It's the fact that there seems to be a lot of grey areas where nothing is defined and certain. Now it could be that my absolutely dead on ability to separate everything into black and white has caused me to feel this way, but I can't help but notice how people who would call themselves a Christian are compromising their faith in order to conform with the pressures of todays society. Some examples are the teen pregnancy rate among the "evangelicals", alcoholism, secular humanism, and a frighteningly loose interpretation of God's word.

I think that it's becoming too hard for the youth to be in the world without becoming a slave to the world. Sometimes I think we forget what sets us apart. We forget how we have to preserve that spirit in us that comes from Him in order to be a light to the world. I'm not saying we should completely alienate ourselves from society, because we have to know about and be familiar with the world in which we live. What I am thinking is that we need to have a thicker skin to keep out the things that can pollute us and contaminate the light in us.

I see an astounding trend in society of people who say the are Christian and yet they pick and choose what things in the Bible they want to believe and throw a lot out that they believe to be irrelevant and that they think does not apply to them and the time they live in. You either believe all of God's word, or none of it. There shouldn't be an in between. God didn't make the Bible as a menu where you can select what you want out of it. It should be a guide to us everyday and we should look to Him for all of life's situations. I don't believe in being overly religious to the point where one is out of touch with everything, I just think that in this generation where the temptations of the world grow stronger and stronger every day, we need to do the same and start beefing up on God's word and really get passionate about it. We should be equally adamant to be light just as much as Satan does his best to pollute the world with darkness.

We are the generation in which we can change things in the world if we really want to. Let's not go to waste.
It's either black or white. Light or dark. Left or right. Where do you stand?